ANGRY New Forest residents are taking on Hamp-shire highway chiefs over the dilapidated state of pavements outside their Totton homes.

The group - up in arms over the condition of Hammonds Lane - believes that a serious accident is inevitable unless the county's surveyors take immediate action.

Many elderly and disabled residents use the road's south side which over the years has been eaten away by persistent off-road parking, leaving its grass verges barren.

One of those affected is 79-year-old Kathleen Davies who has been badly shaken when using her electric scooter on the pavement there.

Kathleen, who has lived in the area for 37 years, said: "I get giddy spells and have very painful feet and need the scooter.

"But on the pavement, the scooter shakes about and the bumps reverberate up my back."

The residents have already sent a petition to the county surveyors and have the backing of local councillors.

Resident Sylvia Prescott, 65, said: "The petition was signed by almost everybody on this side of the street.

"I've spent 42 years in the same house and I can't remember the pavement ever being done properly.

"In the past any resurfacing has been bits and pieces and a waste of time. No sooner is the asphalt put down than it comes off again."

Chairman of Totton's planning and transportation committee councillor George Dart added: "I know neglect when I see it and I would like the surveyor to demonstrate that he regards this type of neglect with the same seriousness as the parish council."

Hampshire county councillor Edith Randall also gave her backing to the residents' campaign. She said: "This pavement is in just about the worst condition I have seen in the whole of Totton."

Assistant area surveyor John Mursell visited the road to see its shoddy state for himself.

He said: "Certainly this is one of the worst in our area - no one could defend it.

"There's a lot of issues behind this but funding is certainly one of them.

"We only have a budget of half a million pounds whereas four years ago we had one of over a million.

"A lot of the damage here has been caused by cars parking on the verges. The people here have to decide what they want their neighbourhood to look like.

"Are they going to keep off it or are they going to turn it into a mudbath as soon as any work has been done"

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